The Goal among all the goals Philippians 3:12-14

What does the Bible says about planning?

1. Have a goal in life, Proverbs 29:18, Where there is no vision, people perish
2. The Lord's will is ultimately followed
• James 4:13-15, "...instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.
• Prov. 16:9 - The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his step
• Jeremiah 29:11 - "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.   
3. Seek counsel. Prov. 15:22 - Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.
4. Do not plan with people of different mindset/conviction/perspective:  
• Psalm 1-3, Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
• 2 Cor. 6:14 - Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?
5. God is more interested to finishing your goal.  Phil. 1:6  
6. Count the Cost - Luke 14:28-31, For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
7. Desire to do his will.  Matthew 26:39 - And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
8. Do not let your goals or unfulfilled goals define you.  Romans 8:1-39 - There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ...

The attitude behind goals... 

1. Keep working on it and persevere.   1 Cor. 9:24-27, "So run that you may obtain it.  Every athlete exercises self-control in all things." 
2. Be just, humble and kind.  Micah 6:8 - He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?   
3. Do not be afraid to take the right step.  Is. 41:10, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will streghten you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  
4.  Be wise as an ant.  Proverbs 6:6 - Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise
5. Plan moderately - .Phil. 4:12 - I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
6. Keep on the full armor of God / Don't let your guard down - Eph. 6:13, Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
• 1 Pet 5:8 - Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

The consequence for short-cutting the system or cheating the system

1. Feeling good temporarily.   Prov 13:19 - A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, ...
2. Your friends don't agree with God's plan - Prov. 13:19b - but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools. 
3. Dissolution in Life - Eccl. 1:1-18, The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What does man gain by all the toil at which he toils under the sun? A generation goes, and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever. The sun rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it rises. ...

The goal among all the goals is to put God first

1. Prioritize God among all goals - Matthew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  
2. Remove all distractions - Hebrews 12:1-3 - "...let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, let us run with endurance th race that is set before us, looking to Jesus,..." 
3. Submit your goals and plans before the Lord.  Matthew 7:7-8, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." 
4. Acknowledge God every step of the way - Proverbs 3:6 - In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths
5. Secure your time with the Lord.  Isaiah 58:13-14 - “If you turn back your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, or seeking your own pleasure, or talking idly; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
6. Be intimate with His Word - Joshua 1:8 - This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

If plans don't get fulfilled

1. He has a better plan for our greater good.  Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purposes.  
2. There's always a way out - be patient! 1 Cor. 10:13 -  No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
3. Be accustomed to the wisest advice.  Read this over and over.   Prov. 24:6-16, There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ...

Advice on Planning for Money

1. Matthew 6:19-21 - "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where theives break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where theives do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.   
2. Family provision - 1 Timothy 5:8 - But if anyone does not provide for his realtives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.  
3. Prioritize wisdom over money.  Proverbs 3:13-26 - Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. ...